Last week, Year 6 delivered two Matilda Jr performances that left the audience cheering, laughing, and wiping away more than a few happy tears. Wonderful singing, brilliant dancing, and confident acting delighted the packed audiences from start to finish.
The Year 6 production has become an important milestone in the Patana Primary school experience — and this year’s was no exception. Back in October, there were shrieks of excitement in the Year 6 shared area when it was revealed that their show would be Matilda. For the seven months since then, children have been working towards these performances in their weekly drama lessons and singing assemblies. The end result is a wonderful demonstration of the confident, collaborative communicators our students have become.
The shows featured many stand-out performances, with excellent solos and some particularly memorable Trunchbulls. However, the real highlight of the Year 6 production will always be its inclusivity. Every child in the year group plays an integral role in the success of the production. With the cohort split into two parallel casts and each main character shared between multiple actors, the show featured no fewer than 8 different Matildas and 6 Miss Trunchbulls! This structure maximises stage time for the entire year group, creating a fantastic sense of shared ownership. Everyone is included — and so everyone is pulling in the same direction.
The camaraderie this produces is impossible to miss. Backstage, the atmosphere buzzes with excitement. There are hi-fives and hugs between students as they come off stage, children dancing in the wings, and the cheerful chaos of last-minute costume changes. Every child cheers for every other child.
This team effort extends well beyond the students themselves. The Creative Arts team, all Year 6 staff, Buildings and Grounds, and the sound and lighting crews all pull together to make the production the spectacular event it is. Special mention must go to Mr Jack, who took on the crucial — and surprisingly technical — job of making a cup topple over using a piece of invisible string, executed with the precision of a seasoned stage manager.
It is this spirit of collaboration, students and staff, performers and crew, leads and ensemble, that makes the Year 6 production so much more than a school play. It is a celebration of what a community can achieve when everyone plays their part.
Bravo, Year 6.
